Board Members, Legislators, Discuss Education

SCSD#2 Board of Trustees held their annual meeting with the Wyoming State Legislators in a virtual format on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. Attending the meeting via zoom were Senators Dave Kinskey, and Bo Biteman; as well as Representatives Cyrus Western, Mark Kinner and Barry Crago.

Rebecca Adsit and Mitch Craft, assistant superintendents, and the board attended in person.

Superintendent Scott Stults spoke about K-12 education and the resources they have to help fund education. He added that he could not be more proud of the central office team and the teachers that are in the trenches every day.

Adsit said that SCSD#2 is a top performing district in Wyoming and that Sheridan schools focus on the whole student.

Craft presented a slide of some of the main financial supporters over the years. These individuals and organizations provide funding in addition to state and federal funds, and allow SCSD#2 to invest in education at the local level.

Craft said that they value the fact that the legislators took the time to listen to us and work with them. Craft asked the legislators about the proposed legislation that would that would remove local control of curriculum.

Senator Kinskey said that the Wyoming Department of Education only wants to get a handle on making schools better with a more standard curriculum, but wondered if high performing schools could be exempt. He added that right now accountability for lower performing schools has, “no teeth.” These things can be discussed, he said.

Block Grant funding was discussed, with Stults saying he felt the block grant funds were working well for SCSD#2, even though it gets the lowest allotment per student of any school in the state, but SCSD#2 has creative ways to fund education. “We make it work.” he said.

He said that the block grant funds what it needs to fund. “It is was not perfect, but it works. We use it in a way that makes sense. We refine and change if necessary.”

If other districts are not using the money correctly, that should be looked at.

Wilson said that just throwing money at education doesn’t work, She also felt that concerning the lower performing districts, “We need to lead them, and give them some ideas on how to improve.”

Senator Kinner “I would like to have a follow up conversation about the block grant to bring the under performing school districts along.”

Senator Biteman said that Sen. Scott has been pushing for a grant for teacher salaries within the funding model. He wondered where District #2 might fit in that proposal.

Stults responded to the proposed grant for teacher funding. Saying he felt that good teachers were an important part of Sheridan County School District #2 being a top-ranked school, Mitch Craft felt that the school cannot achieve high levels of student learning in isolation. It was a team effort.

Wilson also expressed concern about CRT being taught in Wyoming schools, at present CRT She said that any parent can go on our site and see what is being taught, and can read the text books. Cyrus Western said he would support a ban that CRT not be taught in Wyoming schools, saying he felt local school boards should make curriculum decisions.

Biteman said that bill 1003 in Senate and 1001 in the house would let schools opt out of Covid-19 Vaccine mandates, but would keep the requirements for other vaccines.

Trustee Schatz asked the legislators about future school funding, and Kinner said that the numbers are encouraging, with the estimated shortfall being less than was first thought.

He had this to say about the mineral funding which is where Wyoming schools receive a lot of their money.

He added that although it looks positive, things can change quickly, and school districts in the state should look for ways to save money.

Chairman Wilson thanked the Legislators for joining the meeting, and meeting adjourned at 6:40.